DPWH BICOL LAUNCHES LAKBAY ALALAY PROGRAM FOR UNDAS

LEGAZPI CITY — In line with the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) thrust of assisting all motorists in the forthcoming observance of All Saints’ Day on November 1, 2010, Secretary Rogelio Singson has directed all regional directors and district engineers to activate a composite team who will aide the traveling public.

In Bicol, DPWH Regional Director Danilo Dequito has ordered the deployment of Motorists’ Assistance Centers on strategic locations of the national highway of Bicol. Each District Engineering Office in the region has an existing organized team ready to give free roadside emergency repair assistance to motorists during long holidays. These teams are composed of engineers, car mechanics, equipment operators and other service crews.

This program, dubbed as “Lakbay Alalay” will start at 6:00 a.m. on October 30, 2010 until 12:00 noon of November 3, 2010. This is in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) officials. These Centers will be installed at the following locations:

Albay province : Basud, Sto. Domingo (DM Jct.-Legazpi-Sto. Domingo-Tabaco-Camarines Sur Bdry. Road); Busay, Daraga, Albay (Daang Maharlika); Paulog, Ligao City (in front of Albay 2nd DEO);

Camarines Norte: Tabugon, Sta. Elena (Km 244+313, Daang Maharlika) (with roving unit);

Camarines Sur: Tambo, Pamplona (Daang Maharlika); Concepcion Grande, Naga City (fronting TMG Hqtrs); Tigaon Station (DPWH Junction); Buluang, Baao (Daang Maharlika); Bato Resthouse, Agos (Daang Maharlika); and DPWH Sub-Office, Agrupacion, Ragay;

Catanduanes: Manambrag, San Andres (Catanduanes Circ. Road); Pagsangahan, Sa Miguel (km 24+780); Bato, Catanduanes (km. 7=760); ad Sicmil, Gigmoto (kn. 64+800);

Masbate: Jct. Milagros-Baleno-Lagta Road; Jct. Tawad-Balud Road; Masbate-Milagros/Masbate-Cataingan Road; Junction Buenabista (jct. Buenavista-Cawayan Road); Barangay Del Carmen (Jct. Buenavista-Cawaya Road); Barangay Balocawe, Dimasalag (Jct. Balatucan-Cataingan Rd.); Jct. Cataingan (Jct. Balatucan-Cataingan Road); Brug. Katipunan (Jct. Cataingan-Placer Road); San Fernando South Road (Batuan Section); San Fernando North Road (San Fernando Section); San Fernando North Road (San Jacinto Section); Sa Fernando North Road (Monreal Section); San Fernando North Road (San Pascual Side); and San Pascual-Claveria Road (Claveria Section);

Sorsogon: Pepita Park, Bucalbucalan (Daang Maharlika) and San Pedro Multi-Purpose Brgy. Hall, Irosin (Km. 621+800)

At the DPWH, Rawis, Legazpi City, a skeletal workforce from Maintenance Division (Tel. #482-0429) will man the office to receive reports from field offices and to render emergency services that may be required during the said holidays. (LVCastañeda, DPWH V/PIA/mal)

BIR BICOL FILES CHARGES AGAINST PDIC EXEC

LEGAZPI CITY— The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Bicol has filed a criminal case against the chief liquidator of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) for failure to present for examination the books of accounts and other accounting records of a foreclosed bank, a top regional official of the bureau disclosed.

BIR Revenue Region 10 Director Atty. Diosdado R. Mendoza told PIA News Service that BIR has filed criminal charges against PDIC’s official for failure to obey summons, under Section 5 in relation to Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Mendoza said the tax bureau has filed the charges last week at the Iriga City Prosecutor’s Office following the failure of the PDIC chief liquidator to comply with BIR’s Subpoena Duces Tecum (SDT), received by the PDIC last December 8, 2009, and despite several follow ups and appeal from the bureau for an audit investigation of the 2007 and 2008 to determine the tax liabilities of the foreclosed G7 Bank.

G7 Bank (also Rural Bank of Nabua, Inc.) was closed for business by PDIC in 2008 due to problems in the banks cash outflow, despite being the biggest rural bank in Bicol with seven branches spread throughout the region and two other branches in the Metro Manila.

The bank was placed first under receivership by the PDIC which took charge of all its assets, records and affairs, subsequently, went through a liquidation process under the supervision of the PDIC to dispose all of its assets and properties.

Mendoza furthered the filing of charges is in line with the directive of BIR Commissioner Kim Henares not only to run after tax evaders but also to file charges against persons obstructing the tax bureau’s effort to collect the right taxes.

Meanwhile, the tax bureau chief said that BIR Bicol’s seven revenue district offices collected a total of P3.2 billion from January to August or 29.29 percent over the same period last. The tax bureau in Bicol has set a tax collection goal of P4.7 billion for 2010.

Mendoza added that BIR Bicol has continually surpassed its tax collection target for the past three consecutive years. (EDLeon, PIA V/mal)

AKO BICOL FILES MOTORCYCLE ANTI-OVERLOADING BILL

LEGAZPI CITY— Ako Bikol (AKB) partylist has filed House Bill No. 3360 that will prohibit overloading of motorcycles and limits passengers to those above 12 years old.

The increasing prices of petroleum and traffic congestion led to the increase in the number of motorcycle purchases. Use of motorcycles is found to be a convenient, efficient, and cheaper means to evade traffic.

Admirably, Congress responded to this concern when it passed Republic Act No. 10054 or the “Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009”, which mandates the use of helmets for drivers and passengers.

However, AKB reps also recognize the need to act on the uncontrolled overloading of motorcycles, which, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority, is one of the major causes of motorcycle accidents.

Motorcycles are made to accommodate only two (2) persons – the driver and one passenger. It has become a habit to accommodate more than two persons as in the case of the habal-habal, a popular public utility in the rural areas, which can accommodate around six (6) people.

They also observed the dangerous habit of including infants and children as passengers. Alarming also is the fact that the use of helmets for toddlers and infants is not imposed. This presents a very dangerous situation that endangers the lives of children who ride motorcycles unprotected, usually snuggled between parents or tucked in the arms of a parent.

The bill is aimed at lessening, if not eradicating, the dangers imposed by motorcycle-overloading and safeguarding the interests of children. (AKB PAO/PIA/mal)

HEALTH AND MEDICAL SERVICES FOR KABIHUG TRIBE ON IP WEEK

DAET, Camarines Norte – The Indigenous People (IP) here locally known ‘kabihug’ in sitio Kalibighu, Barangay, Osmeña, Jose Panganiban this province joins the IP week celebration last week.

Atty. Nydia A. Hebrio, OIC of the National Commission on Indigenous People said that activities conducted include: basic hygiene training, malaria and tuberculosis awareness last October 13 and 15 respectively.

A medical mission, civil wedding, civil registration, tribal wedding and cultural night presentation with songs and dances were held October 15.

The Kabihug also participated in tribal games, IP forum with partners and stakeholders, and awarding of prizes and surprise gifts last Oct. 16.

Earlier the kabihug attended the training in cultural mural painting and benefited in the alternative supplemental feeding for the IP children.

The activity was sponsored by the Diocese of Daet, SFACFI, Caritas Australia and the Indigenous People Empowerment and Development Project (IP-EDP).

This year’s theme “ Kabihug tagapagpayabong ng lupaing katutubo”. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

BFAR TRAINS INSPECTORS, STAKEHOLDERS ON HYGIENE PRACTICES IN FISH TRADING

PILI, Camarines Sur — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Bicol has conducted a three-day training on the Sanitary Code of the Philippines and Requirements of Export Chain on October 7-9, 2010 at the Avenue Plaza Hotel, Naga City.

A total of 30 sanitary inspectors from Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon and Catanduanes and fish traders of fresh/frozen fishery products, talangka and crab meat from Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were trained on Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) as required by the Sanitary Code and Export chains.

The Technical Related Training Assistance (TRTA) Project of the European Union (EU) sponsored the event.

Dr. Christopher Oates, a consultant of the TRTA shared a comprehensive lecture on the first day. He discussed the Food Safety Requirements for Export Markets and Technical Requirements of Inspection.
To apply the knowledge gained, the participants had a mock inspection in the fish processing facilities in Camaligan and Gainza, Camarines Sur on the second day.

The participants also attended a campaign on good hygiene practice on sanitation at Barangay Cagbunga in Gainza which was participated by BFAR Assistant Regional Director Marjurie Grutas, Mayor William Abilay, Barangay Chairman Eriberto Pablo, and the talangka gatherers and pre-processors as well. A press conference followed the campaign to further disseminate the importance of abiding with the sanitary code in the preparation of fishery products. (RACanabe, BFAR V/PIA/mal))

DA PROVIDES BICOL FARMERS SEEDS TO BOOST RICE PRODUCTION
By Danny O. Calleja

PILI, Camarines Sur — Farmers in Bicol are now being provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) with planting seeds in support to the government’s Rice Sufficiency Plan (RSP), a nationwide effort for the country to regain self-sufficiency in the staple grain.

This initiative is part of the implementation of the Rapid Seed Supply Financing Project (RaSSFiP) of the DA in tandem with the National Food Authority (NFA) under the Rapid Food Production Enhancement Program (RaFPEP) designed to avert rice price crisis similar to what was experienced by local consumers in 2008.

“This remains an urgent response to prevent an emergency by providing seeds rapidly to increase rice production immediately,” Jose Dayao, the regional executive director of the DA for Bicol based at its Regional Field Unit (RFU) in Barangay San Agustin here said on Tuesday.

Dayao said this program, funded through a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and grant assistance from the European Commission, provides for the procurement of certified seeds for distribution to eligible farmers on a subsidized scheme.

Eligible farmers are those who are either landowners, farm tenants, leaseholders and administrators actually tilling the land and whose farms are located in rain-fed areas or lowland irrigated areas with an average yield of less than 3.8 metric tons per hectare.

About 2,000 farmers tilling some 5,000 hectares of rice fields in all the six provinces of Bicol are qualified to the program and Dayao said all they have to do is coordinate with their respective Municipal or City Agriculturist Offices (MAOs/CAO)s) for more details on how to avail of it.

Each of the qualified farmer is entitled to one bag (40 kg) of certified inbred rice seeds per hectare. The DA through the NFA provides seed subsidy amounting to a maximum of P600 and since the subsidy ceiling is P1,200, the other half (P600) is borne by the farmer as equity.

Under the program, the local government units (LGUs) through their Municipal Agriculturist Offices (MAOs) provide the master list of farmers that are qualified to the subsidy.

The MAOs also provide the NFA listings of the farmers who are potential sources of certified seeds that could be procured for distribution to beneficiaries of the subsidy scheme.

The certified seeds that the NFA acquires should pass the testing by the Regional Seed Quality Control Service which requires that the seed should not be more than two months old at the time of purchase and with a germination rate of not less than 85 percent, free from pests.

The RaSSFiP was launched during the dry season in 2009 to support the government's Rice Self -Sufficiency Plan but due to some hitches in its implementing guidelines, it was reviewed and following some fine-tuning and the program pushed through its extension phase starting last September 16 to last until March 15, next year.

According to Marilyn Sta. Catalina, acting regional technical director for Operations and Extension and Regional Rice Program Coordinator, Bicol is among the 10 regions included in this special program.

She said Bicol farmers should take advantage of this opportunity and avail of the certified seed subsidy given that it is the only program of similar benefits under DA's regular programs.

“We wanted to maintain the reputation won by Bicol that ranked it as first among the regions in the entire country in palay production growth rate last year as reported by Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) that is why we wanted the most number of farmers to avail of this program,” Sta. Catalina said.

According to the BAS, the region posted a 17.3 percent palay production growth rate in the first semester of 2009 compared to the first semester of last year, the highest among the rice producing regions.

Camarines Sur, a consistent surplus rice producer, stood out among the provinces of Bicol in terms of volume in palay production which is an immense factor in the region’s number one ranking during the period.

Ilocos region ranks second with 13.08 percent growth rate for the same period, followed by Central Luzon which is known as the rice granary of the Philippines which registered a 9.23 percent net production growth.

Rice output in Bicol rose to 1.02 million metric tons in 2009, up 2.56 percent from the 997,581 metric tons in 2008, a separate DA report said adding that 313, 762 hectares were planted to rice in 2009 which represented an increase of 23,044 hectares over 2008.

Local leaders specifically Camarines Sur Governor LRay Villafuerte has placed high premium on agricultural productivity, especially on palay production, because of his firm commitment that it is vital to the economic acceleration of the province.

The BAS report attributes the remarkable performance of Bicol to the use of quality seeds by the farmers, the additional use of inputs and better irrigation system. (PNA Bicol/PIA/mal)

BFAR-BICOL JOINS “FISH IS LIFE” FESTIVAL, FISH CONSERVATION WEEK

PILI, Camarines Sur — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Bicol joined the Fish is Life Festival in nationwide celebration of the Fish Conservation Week or FISHCON (October 17-23) at the Megatrade Hall 1 in SM Mega Mall B on October 18-20, 2010.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala graced the observance of the 47th Fish Conservation Week as he opens the 3-day Fish is Life Festival. The festival featured a 3-in-1 show where all the key players of the fishery sector come together to provide the public relevant information and technical know-how about the fisheries industry and to promote quality seafood products at factory prices.

With the theme “Asenso sa pangisdaan makakamit sa sama-samang pagtutulungan," government agencies such as the BFAR including its regional offices and national centers, DTI, DOTC-PCG, DOST-PCAMRD, SEAFDEC-AQD, DA-PFDA, DA-PhilMech, DA-ACPC, NGOs for Fisheries Reform, PAMPANO and other fisherfolk organizations showcased their banner programs under the KAUGNAY AKO agency exhibits.

BFAR-Bicol showcased the capiz shells handicraft of Sorsogon City, which is becoming a profitable livelihood for the red tide-affected fisherfolk and their families, in its booth along with other fishery products from Bicol such as Tiwi, Albay’s seaweed noodles.
At least 30 producers of various kinds of fish and fishery products offered their products for sale at reduced prices under the KABALIKAT KAMI Producers Show. There were taste testing, free product samples and other promos for the early birds.

Moreover, the festival also featured lectures and techno-demos on various livelihood opportunities in fisheries including strategies on how to conserve and protect the aquatic resources in the KAYA NATIN Techno-Livelihood Seminar Series.

BFAR Director Malcolm I. Sarmiento Jr. said that the festival aims to provide a one-stop shop that would enable the public to understand the intricacies of the sector as well as to provide them livelihood opportunities that they could venture in especially in their hometown provinces.

Sarmiento stressed that the show was very informative, interactive and fun-filled as the BFAR regional offices showcased their banner programs in fishery production as well as in conservation, while its national training and development featured various technologies in the fishing, farming and processing of fish and fishery products.

Meanwhile, BFAR-Bicol Regional Director Dennis del Socorro has called on the active participation of the Local Government Units (LGUs) to hold their own activities in the celebration of the weeklong event with installation of streamers and media plugging regionwide.

Likewise, the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (RLECC) Sub Committee on Fishing and Marine Environment Protection composed of various law enforcement and regulatory agencies in Bicol (headed by BFAR) also put up tarpaulins in their respective offices to support the FISHCON.

In Camarines Sur, the LGU of San Fernando will strengthen its CRM Program with the significant participation of BAR and NGO-Bicol Convergence for Development Institution as partners; Inland Fisheries Resource Management; awarding of fishing gears to fisherfolk as livelihood project and tilapia fingerlings dispersal.

In the municipality of Cabusao, the activities are coastal clean-up, tree planting along the shoreline, registration of fisherfolk and fingerlings dispersal to fishpond operators and communal waters. In Barcelonita Fisheries School in Cabusao, the Fish Con Week Celebration will hold skills contest on fish feed formulation, bangus deboning, gill net construction and fishpond lay-outing.

Coastal clean-up activities are scheduled in Ragay and San Jose while tilapia fingerling dispersal is slated in Canaman. The source of fingerlings is the Regional Freshwater Fisheries Center of BFAR-5.

In Catanduanes, the BFAR Provincial Fisheries Office will conduct information dissemination drives to the community and schools.

In Sorsogon City, the LGU conducted a participatory coastal resources assessment, coastal clean-up and created an on-call, 24-hour dive team for the immediate response action for manta rays protection and conservation during its breeding and migration.

Meanwhile, a fish health management and sustainability of the naturally produced native fish and fingerlings dispersal for upland and coastal barangays will be held in Tabaco City. (RACanabe, BFAR V/PIA/mal)

DTI SHORTENS BUSINESS NAME REGISTRATION PERIOD

LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bicol regional office here has since October 6 implementing the Enhanced Business Name Registration System (EBNRS) based on Department Administrative Order 10-08 series of 2010to further shorten the processing period to only fifteen (15) minutes.

DTI Bicol Regional Director Jocelyn L. B. Blanco said “the new system is one of the government’s commitments to facilitate faster and easier registration of single-owned businesses in the country. We, in the department make our clients feel important and needed.

“By doing so, we build a friendly environment and thereby attracting more businessmen to invest in our local communities, “ the director added.

The new system has the following salient features:

• Reduced required information in the application form – only seven (7) required fields
• Single Registration per BN, regardless on the number of branches
• Territorial coverage of business name (whether within a barangay, city/municipality, region or national in scope) specified
• Relaxed rules on the prohibition of identical and confusingly similar BNs
• Registration at any DTI Field Office
• No need to personally file your application; if online

Blanco explained that the National Economic Research and Business Assistance Center (NERBAC) places under one roof all government agencies giving permits and licenses. Businessmen need not go around the different offices in getting licenses.

“This way they save on time and transport expenses, thus lessening the cost of doing business in the country,” she furthered.

The department is also working on the Philippine Business Registry (PBR), a one-stop-shop facility for businesses that want to get mayor’s permit, registrations and licenses from the DTI, SEC and other agencies.

For further details about the EBNRS and other DTI programs, feel free to call DTI-5 with telephone numbers 480-5721/4805720. (JRBerango, DTI V/PIA/mal)

Aquino, Triet witness signing of 4 agreements between RP and Vietnam

HANOI (via PLDT and Smart) — The Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed four agreements which aim to further strengthen and enhance bilateral relations between the two countries specifically in the fields of Education, Defense, Environmental Concern and Search and Rescue at Sea.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III and President Nguyen Minh Triet of Vietnam witnessed the signing of said four memoranda on Tuesday in Hanoi during the expanded bilateral meeting of the two heads of state.

The meeting took place shortly after President Aquino arrived at the Noi Bai International Airport Tuesday morning for a two-day state visit and to attend the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

The agreements signed include Academic Cooperation, Defense Cooperation, Oil Spill Preparedness and Response and Search and Rescue Operations at Sea.

Higher Education Commissioner Patricia Licuanan signed the MOA on Academic Cooperation in behalf of the Philippines. The agreement aims to promote cooperation on higher education and professional training, provide a framework within which detailed proposals for programs of education cooperation are to be jointly considered.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the agreement on Defense Cooperation that intends to create a framework for boosting bilateral cooperation between the defense agencies and armed forces of both countries. Such cooperation specifically covers defense and military, equipment and technology, and defense industries.

Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo signed for the Philippine Government the MOA on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response. It will undertake Philippines-Vietnam cooperation in oil spill preparedness and response, particularly in the areas of human resources development, mutual assistance, information exchange, research and development, and other areas of cooperation.

Apart from these, Admiral Tamayo also signed the MOA on Search and Rescue at Sea that further aims to enhance the efficiency of search and rescue operations for ships and aircrafts and persons in distress.

“These agreements will improve the lives of the poor”, President Aquino said.

After the signing ceremonies, the Chief Executive met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The President congratulated the Vietnamese leader for Hanoi’s 1000th Founding Anniversary.

In turn, the Vietnamese Prime Minister congratulated the President for his success in the May 2010 polls.

In the evening, President Aquino attended a State Banquet hosted by the Vietnamese President in his honor at the Presidential Palace.

Philippine Ambassador to Hanoi Jerril Santos said the state visit and the President’s attendance to the ASEAN Summit is a good start citing the importance of the Chief Executive’s meeting with the leaders of ASEAN and Dialogue partners that will benefit the people.

The President’s state visit was upon the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart during their meeting last month in New York at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Before the bilateral talks, the President had a 15-minute tete-a-tete with President Nguyen Minh Triet at the yellow room of the Presidential Palace where he expressed profound thanks and gratitude for the warm welcome. (PIA V)

Aquino's state visit makes front page of Vietnam News

HANOI (via PLDT and Smart) — President Benigno S. Aquino III’s state visit here and his attendance at the 17th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit from October 26 to 30 has reached fever-pitch prompting the Vietnam News, the national English daily of Vietnam, to feature the Chief Executive on the front page of its Tuesday edition.

In its article entitled “Philippine leader begins Vietnam visit,” Vietnam News cited the “friendship and comprehensive cooperative relation between the two countries” which it said “has been continuously developing and consolidating.”

“The two sides regularly exchange delegations at all levels and maintain close cooperation at international and regional forums,” the Vietnam News said.

It further cited that trade between the Philippines and Vietnam reached $1.87-billion in the first eight months of the year. These included import and export of rice, electronic components, agricultural products, fertilizer, machines, liquid gas, pharmaceutical products and building materials.

The President’s visit, which is his first to an ASEAN member-country since he assumed office in June this year, aims to further strengthen diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries which first established ties in 1976. (PIA V)

Aquino offers aid to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia

HANOI (via PLDT and Smart) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday expressed sorrow and concern for the people of Indonesia devastated by the recent earthquake and tsunami.

The President, who is here for a two-day state visit and to attend the three-day 17th ASEAN Leaders Summit, also ordered Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to send search and rescue teams to Indonesia.

The Chief Executive expressed confidence that the country’s southern neighbor will be able to ”meet this challenge with the resolve compassion, and unity that has marked their response to national calamities in the past.”

The President disclosed that Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is also here for a state visit and to attend the ASEAN Summit will have to travel back to Indonesia to lead his people in the rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts.

His scheduled bilateral meeting with the Indonesian President on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit may no longer push through.

At least 108 people were killed, and hundreds remained missing Wednesday, after a tsunami smashed into a remote Indonesian island chain while in central Java a volcanic eruption left 13 people dead.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck in the Mentawai Islands area west of Sumatra late Monday, generating waves as high as three meters (10 feet) that swept away 10 villages.

Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire — a series of fault lines stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia.

The country's most volatile volcano, Mount Merapi, 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) to the east, started to erupt at dusk Tuesday as scientists warned that pressure building beneath its lava dome could trigger one of the most powerful blasts in years.

The 7.7-magnitude quake that struck late Monday just 13 miles (20 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor was followed by at least 14 aftershocks, the largest measuring 6.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. (PIA V)

RP improvement in corruption index attributed to good governance

HANOI (via PLDT and Smart) — President Benigno S. Aquino III said that the recent upgrade of Transparency International’s corruption perception index of the Philippines showed his administration’s seriousness in ending corruption and that this drive would gain momentum in the coming years.

In a press conference Wednesday morning here, the President said that his group’s battlecry against corruption during the Presidential campaign has been carried over now that he is President of the Philippines and that he intends to achieve this advocacy until the end of his term in 2016.

“As I maintained during my presidential campaign, we will need to eliminate corruption if we want our country to move forward,” the President said, adding that our resolve to eliminate corruption will eventually gain momentum as we move towards a corrupt-free governance.”

In a media briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed hope the President’s policy on good governance could result in a further improvement in the country’s rating in the coming years.

Early in his term, the President directed the implementation of tough anti-corruption measures in an effort to improve the country’s economy and reduce poverty.

In its 2010 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), the Transparency International survey showed the Philippines was ranked 134th among 178 countries with a score of 2.4, better than its 139th ranking last year.

The 2010 CPI measures the degree to which public-sector corruption is perceived using the scale from 10 (very clean) to 0 (highly corrupt).

Despite the improvement in overall ranking, the Philippines still lags behind most of its neighbors in Southeast Asia, among them Malaysia which is ranked 56th; Thailand, 78th; Indonesia, 110th; and Vietnam, 116th.

Transparency International (TI) is a non-governmental organization that monitors and publicizes corporate and political corruption in international development. It publishes an annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which is a comparative listing of corruption worldwide. (PIA V)

Aquino allays concerns of Filipinos in Vietnam

HANOI (via PLDT & Smart) — President Benigno S. Aquino III on Wednesday met with some 150 Filipinos working in Vietnam and gave solutions to two of their concerns at the Grand Plaza Hotel here.

The concerns, as mentioned by Jun Torres of the Samahang Pinoy in Vietnam, were the recent closure of the Philippine consulate in Ho Chi Minh and the strengthening of the peso.

Torres stressed the need to reopen the Philippine Consulate in Ho Chi Minh so it can attend to the needs of Filipinos residing or working in the southern part of Vietnam.

“If there is reason, why not?,” the President said adding that the reopening will not happen overnight and that a study will have to be conducted.

There are around 3,500 to 4,000 Filipinos in Vietnam, the bulk of which are in Ho Chi Minh. Most of them are professionals and are held in high esteem by the locals, according to Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Jerill Santos.

As to the further strengthening of the peso, the President made an assurance that the peso may stabilize within the present level.

Recognizing the fact that overseas Filipino workers are affected by the strong peso, the President stressed that one of the priorities of his administration is to create more jobs, so that working abroad will no longer be a matter of necessity but rather a career choice.

“What we want is a stable peso. The intervention of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in the market is needed to preserve the value of the peso,” the Chief Executive said adding that the government is in a position to do such because of high gross national reserves.

The President also informed the Filipinos here of the achievements of his new administration particularly in eradicating corruption.

He assured them that the Aquino Administration will work hard to improve the lives of the people.

“Ang focus natin ay para sa bansa hindi para sa bulsa. We will do what we have to do.” he said.

The President thus enjoined the Filipinos in Vietnam to unite and support his administration.

“We are at your beck and call. Tell us what you need and we will answer your call,” he assured. (PIA V)

Coloma convenes gov’t info officers

MANILA — Anchored on disseminating the “gospel of good governance” as its main thrust, Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma convened some 26 chief public information officers (CPIOs) from various government entities under the Office of the President (OP) on Tuesday at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City.

Communications officers from Cabinet-level departments, Social Security System, Landbank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the major branches of the military, among others participated in the forum.

Coloma urged the information officers to promote the Aquino administration’s efforts in pursuing good governance through transparency, accountability and moral ascendancy.

The event also served as a venue in shaking off from the PCOO (formerly the Office of the Press Secretary), the government’s official communications arm, the traditional propaganda machinery image that has been attached to it for the longest time.

Coloma also presented PCOO’s directions in optimizing the use of New Media as an additional platform for reaching out to the people particularly in getting the people’s feedback on certain issues.

“One story told well. Spread the word”, said Secretary Coloma is how he summed up the government’s gospel of good governance.

He explained that every government officer and employee is an alter ego of the President and how their work and words represent the Chief Executive’s own efforts and commitment to good governance.

Coloma further said that every achievement gained by a government worker, or every Filipino for that matter, not only reflects the effectiveness of the particular agency where he is attached to, but more importantly, the leadership of President Benigno S. Aquino III who is the ultimate in-charge of the whole bureaucracy.

“Communication on behalf of the President is not the duty solely ascribed to PCOO. It is the duty of every government communication officer”, Coloma said.

He also revealed to the information officers various strategies how to deliver the “good news.”

Coloma challenged the information officers to go beyond the press releases as a tool in image building. He likewise encouraged them to look into their own agencies’ inspiring success stories that will make Filipinos feel good and confident not only about the nation’s leadership but more importantly about themselves.

The forum was followed by a workshop on how the CPIOs could contribute to the achievement of the PCOO’s new thrust.

The event, participated in by DEVCOMNET, a development communication network composed of CPIOs, was hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) under the leadership of its new Director General, lawyer Jose Fabia. (PIA V)